Difference between revisions of "Railroads"
(spelling, addition) |
(Edit about smaller worlds and removing stub tag) |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
Railroads are one of best methods of moving materials over landscapes. In the short run they are expensive to build yet over the long run they prove to be very valuable. Your other options are to go over the rough or paved surface in a vehicle or to mix your material with a liquid or gas and send it through a pipe. | Railroads are one of best methods of moving materials over landscapes. In the short run they are expensive to build yet over the long run they prove to be very valuable. Your other options are to go over the rough or paved surface in a vehicle or to mix your material with a liquid or gas and send it through a pipe. | ||
| − | |||
| Line 8: | Line 7: | ||
One solution to this problem is an elevated railroad supported above what the dust can reach. The costs of building elevated railroads and other structures on Luna as compared to Earth are less because of the 1/6 g [[gravity]] on Luna, metals such as [[magnesium]] and [[calcium]] can be used as electrical conductors without corroding, lunar soils provide a firm base, and weathering will not damage the structure so it ought to last a long time. The costs are greater because of the general difficulty of operating in a vacuum, the necessity for dust control techniques during construction, the radiation environment preventing the direct presence of human laborers for any routine outdoor tasks, the inability to use any fossil fuel burning air breathing engines, and the lack of infrastructure in general on Luna. This last problem might be reduced until at some future time all desirable infrastructure is available. | One solution to this problem is an elevated railroad supported above what the dust can reach. The costs of building elevated railroads and other structures on Luna as compared to Earth are less because of the 1/6 g [[gravity]] on Luna, metals such as [[magnesium]] and [[calcium]] can be used as electrical conductors without corroding, lunar soils provide a firm base, and weathering will not damage the structure so it ought to last a long time. The costs are greater because of the general difficulty of operating in a vacuum, the necessity for dust control techniques during construction, the radiation environment preventing the direct presence of human laborers for any routine outdoor tasks, the inability to use any fossil fuel burning air breathing engines, and the lack of infrastructure in general on Luna. This last problem might be reduced until at some future time all desirable infrastructure is available. | ||
| − | + | ===Mars=== | |
| − | |||
With such a thin atmosphere and no [[oxygen]], [[Mars]] has essentially the same dynamics as the moon only with more [[gravity]] (better cornering). | With such a thin atmosphere and no [[oxygen]], [[Mars]] has essentially the same dynamics as the moon only with more [[gravity]] (better cornering). | ||
| − | + | ===Smaller Worlds and Asteroids=== | |
| + | All smaller bodies such as [[asteroid]]s have a gravitational force insufficient for traditional railways. One modification that would solve this is twofold. An upper track can be added like roller coaster to be able to go a reasonable speed without jumping the track. All materials would be securely fastened with either lids or binding clamps. | ||
| − | |||
==Cargo Type Iteration Development Model== | ==Cargo Type Iteration Development Model== | ||
| − | |||
===Bulk Iteration=== | ===Bulk Iteration=== | ||
| − | |||
In the soil of the moon there is metallic nickel iron (as opposed to oxides) that can be collected and is a strategic resource. At a concentration of only a few kilograms per cubic meter, it makes sense to build a railway to open up new regions once the local soil has been processed. This need not be a major railway as the amount of material that can be passed over even a model gauge can be hundreds of tons a day. The rails can be made from local iron. Operating costs would include interest on the capital investment, maintenance and electricity to power the system. | In the soil of the moon there is metallic nickel iron (as opposed to oxides) that can be collected and is a strategic resource. At a concentration of only a few kilograms per cubic meter, it makes sense to build a railway to open up new regions once the local soil has been processed. This need not be a major railway as the amount of material that can be passed over even a model gauge can be hundreds of tons a day. The rails can be made from local iron. Operating costs would include interest on the capital investment, maintenance and electricity to power the system. | ||
===Freight Iteration=== | ===Freight Iteration=== | ||
| − | |||
Once you have a sizable base and need higher volumes of material, you simply leverage the existing facilities to build a larger railway. Railroads are suitable for automated delivery and could conceivably be launched like carrier pigeons to far off secondary bases. A lunar railway of about a meter wide would be able to transport virtually any freight. | Once you have a sizable base and need higher volumes of material, you simply leverage the existing facilities to build a larger railway. Railroads are suitable for automated delivery and could conceivably be launched like carrier pigeons to far off secondary bases. A lunar railway of about a meter wide would be able to transport virtually any freight. | ||
===Passenger Iteration=== | ===Passenger Iteration=== | ||
| + | For passengers and large more fragile freight, you will need protection from radiation as well as the extremes of the solar insolation. A railway with tracks several meters apart (wider than on earth) should have the desired characteristics of fast travel in secure accommodations. Once you have a developed network of railways the need for vehicles to drive on the surface is reduced to a local level. Railways are far less to maintain and last significantly longer. | ||
| − | |||
==Design Issues== | ==Design Issues== | ||
| Line 36: | Line 31: | ||
:Vestibulation issue | :Vestibulation issue | ||
:Gauge | :Gauge | ||
| + | |||
==Rail System Solutions== | ==Rail System Solutions== | ||
| Line 47: | Line 43: | ||
A toothed rail and wheels might be able to provide some additional stability. | A toothed rail and wheels might be able to provide some additional stability. | ||
| − | |||
| Line 73: | Line 68: | ||
==External Link== | ==External Link== | ||
*[http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/6663 Lunar Rails] (board game) | *[http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/6663 Lunar Rails] (board game) | ||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
[[Category:Power Supply]] | [[Category:Power Supply]] | ||
Latest revision as of 15:26, 24 April 2019
Railroads are one of best methods of moving materials over landscapes. In the short run they are expensive to build yet over the long run they prove to be very valuable. Your other options are to go over the rough or paved surface in a vehicle or to mix your material with a liquid or gas and send it through a pipe.
Contents
Lunar Environment
The Lunar Regolith consists of extremely fine crushed rock. This acts like abrasive powder and will electrostatically adhere to anything in contact with it. Vehicles traveling over the open surface will experience wear at an accelerated rate. Paving a road with dust free materials does not solve the problem because the sunlight will cause the dust to climb up and over structures to about a meter in height.
One solution to this problem is an elevated railroad supported above what the dust can reach. The costs of building elevated railroads and other structures on Luna as compared to Earth are less because of the 1/6 g gravity on Luna, metals such as magnesium and calcium can be used as electrical conductors without corroding, lunar soils provide a firm base, and weathering will not damage the structure so it ought to last a long time. The costs are greater because of the general difficulty of operating in a vacuum, the necessity for dust control techniques during construction, the radiation environment preventing the direct presence of human laborers for any routine outdoor tasks, the inability to use any fossil fuel burning air breathing engines, and the lack of infrastructure in general on Luna. This last problem might be reduced until at some future time all desirable infrastructure is available.
Mars
With such a thin atmosphere and no oxygen, Mars has essentially the same dynamics as the moon only with more gravity (better cornering).
Smaller Worlds and Asteroids
All smaller bodies such as asteroids have a gravitational force insufficient for traditional railways. One modification that would solve this is twofold. An upper track can be added like roller coaster to be able to go a reasonable speed without jumping the track. All materials would be securely fastened with either lids or binding clamps.
Cargo Type Iteration Development Model
Bulk Iteration
In the soil of the moon there is metallic nickel iron (as opposed to oxides) that can be collected and is a strategic resource. At a concentration of only a few kilograms per cubic meter, it makes sense to build a railway to open up new regions once the local soil has been processed. This need not be a major railway as the amount of material that can be passed over even a model gauge can be hundreds of tons a day. The rails can be made from local iron. Operating costs would include interest on the capital investment, maintenance and electricity to power the system.
Freight Iteration
Once you have a sizable base and need higher volumes of material, you simply leverage the existing facilities to build a larger railway. Railroads are suitable for automated delivery and could conceivably be launched like carrier pigeons to far off secondary bases. A lunar railway of about a meter wide would be able to transport virtually any freight.
Passenger Iteration
For passengers and large more fragile freight, you will need protection from radiation as well as the extremes of the solar insolation. A railway with tracks several meters apart (wider than on earth) should have the desired characteristics of fast travel in secure accommodations. Once you have a developed network of railways the need for vehicles to drive on the surface is reduced to a local level. Railways are far less to maintain and last significantly longer.
Design Issues
- Thermal expansion issue
- Switching issue
- Derailment avoidance issue
- Vestibulation issue
- Gauge
Rail System Solutions
Number of Rails
The number of rails may vary. Does the system go with a monorail solution, a two rail solution, or a three rail solution that provides external power?
Rail variations
A smooth rail is the tried and true Terrestrial solution refined over an extended time period. Any proposed alternate type of rail would need to prove its capabilities to exceed the safety and performance in Lunar gravitation. A possible point of concern is that with lower gravitation the risk of derailment may be greater.
Maglev solutions have been experimented with on Earth and may have value, especially after the infrastructure needed is in place.
A toothed rail and wheels might be able to provide some additional stability.
Motive power
- Solar electric network
- Polar power tower network
- Maglev
- Conventional
- Nuclear
- Fuel cell
- Lunar fuels
Right of way
- Real estate grants
- Siding-based starter settlements
- Pipelines
- Roads
See Also
External Link
- Lunar Rails (board game)
